I'm still a little shy of online shopping, typically look for dress shirts, pants and jackets, and need to try on the clothes that I buy. I also like the brand name stuff. So what I do now is go to the company's Web site and see if they have a page on social responsibility and read what they have to say.

If it's somewhat reasonable-sounding, outlines or details a concrete plan of action, and doesn't seem as if it was hastily put together with all the buzzwords of the day by some marketing temp agency, then I buy from them. If not, then I don't go.

This pretty much limits me to Banana Republic/Gap stuff and Tommy Hillfiger, but I like what they have, so it works for me most of the time.posted by bitteroldman at 11:18 AM on November 28, 2011

My mother keeps suggesting I dress like Steve Jobs. I'm not sure if Carl Sagan would be an upgrade or not.posted by hoyland at 11:31 AM on November 28, 2011

I think we give Sagan the brown-toned turtleneck combo and McQueen the black-toned. They're very different outfits when you think about it.posted by Apropos of Something at 11:53 AM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]

I like their "Budget" tag but it needs more--it seems like there's hardly any ground between Urban Outfitters or H&M's $20 shoes and $15 shirts at the Outlet Mall and $300 steez from some designer. More stuff like this!posted by Potomac Avenue at 11:59 AM on November 28, 2011

I tend to wear simple stuff until it wears out and then try to get it repaired. I have a five year old leather jacket that I usually wear if I'm ever cold and the same five short sleeved collared shirts.

On the rare occasion that I do buy new clothes I should probably start buying stuff like this if only so I can justify to people why I'm getting something repaired rather than using "good economic sense" and throwing something out and buying something new.

Nice new clothes are too cheap. People don't buy clothes to last and it promotes a sense of disposable clothing rather than taking pride in something and getting it repaired. All cheap new clothes seems to have accomplished is ripping the guts out of a whole segment of the local service economy and replaced it with cheap overseas slave labour. Buying more expensive clothes doesn't help because it's just the same clothes coming out of Bangladesh or Indonesia or the cheap labor flavour of the month and it doesn't flow on to workers there.

Oh, gosh. The comments on that post are just.....very, very special. Maybe I shouldn't have been so surprised, given that it's a site named The Daily Prep, but reading this site really makes me want to go pitch a tent in McPherson Square.

I get what she's trying to do, in terms of identifying former prestige brands on a downward cash-grab spiral, but gosh, most of that article, site, and comments come across as being incredibly distasteful, and dripping with privilege.posted by schmod at 1:15 PM on November 28, 2011

I don't know about sweat shops but I do know that George Zimmer supports the decriminalization of marijuana: I Guarantee It..

A few decades back, upon seeing his name on a petition in support in a full page ad in the New York Times, I called his office to tell him that if I ever bought a suit, I'd buy a suit at the Men's Wearhouse. His receptionist said, "Oh, he'll be so pleased..."

Most of that article, site, and comments come across as being incredibly distasteful, and dripping with privilege

This is an issue that I really wrestle with when it comes to buying clothes. On the one hand, it's definitely true that not everybody can afford a $75-100 oxford shirt from J. Press. On the other hand, that's what it costs to make a shirt in Brooklyn instead of Bangladesh. I try to balance it first by keeping a small closet (one $75 shirt costs the same as three $25 shirts, and looks nicer to boot), by thrifting whenever I can, and by thinking of myself as in sort of a thrift store continuum: as a young man, I can now afford to (mostly) thrift nicer clothes and donate less-nice clothes they can give or sell. When I get older, I hope I'll be able to continue supporting places that make clothes ethically, and deposit that kind of clothes back into the system. When I die, I hope I've got three or four good suits that can go back to the thrift store and be bought by the poor 20-something who needs them.posted by Apropos of Something at 1:43 PM on November 28, 2011 [3 favorites]

Damn, I love all of this stuff but I can never find anything that fits my 6'4" frame. So I kind of give up and shop at chain stores. Which pisses me off.posted by deliquescent at 3:28 PM on November 28, 2011 [3 favorites]

This is great. I only wish there were a corollary site for women with the same values/aesthetics.posted by Miko at 7:35 PM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]

Nice new clothes are too cheap. People don't buy clothes to last and it promotes a sense of disposable clothing rather than taking pride in something and getting it repaired.

The problem with good (well-made, hopefully in the U.S., quality material, reasonably stylish) clothes is, unless you are in a biggish city, they are incredibly hard to find.
With the exception of a couple of Filson dealers that sell the usual mix of outdoor-ish clothing, my area is populated with the usual chains selling the usual sweatshop junk.

Trying to find quality clothing is an exercise in frustration unless I want to drive a couple of hours to the city.posted by madajb at 10:35 PM on November 28, 2011

The Knottery's checkout is busted in both Chrome and IE. Awesome.posted by Joseph Gurl at 10:59 PM on November 28, 2011

Nice new clothes are too cheap. People don't buy clothes to last and it promotes a sense of disposable clothing rather than taking pride in something and getting it repaired. All cheap new clothes seems to have accomplished is ripping the guts out of a whole segment of the local service economy and replaced it with cheap overseas slave labour. Buying more expensive clothes doesn't help because it's just the same clothes coming out of Bangladesh or Indonesia or the cheap labor flavour of the month and it doesn't flow on to workers there.

Bravo, Walmart.

This is one of the snobbiest, and notably clueless things I've ever read here on MF.posted by 2N2222 at 11:12 PM on November 28, 2011

I prefer McGoohan's look as well, I think of it as "60s existential," but ultimately it's, six of one, and a half dozen of the other, really. Although you could also make the point that McQueen was number 1 with a Bullit. Then again McGoohan was never a prisoner to fashion.posted by Skygazer at 5:19 AM on November 29, 2011 [2 favorites]

This is one of the snobbiest, and notably clueless things I've ever read here on MF.

Really? Can you say why? I mean, I might not completely endorse the tone or the generalizations, but I'm not sure it's really all that far off the mark. It expresses some of the problems I have with buying clothes today.posted by Miko at 5:25 AM on November 29, 2011

This is good, thanks. I’m a recovering bargain shopper who is trying to buy less, and more quality. And I’ve decided when I finally wear out or give away all the cheap clothes I’ve bought but don’t love, I’m buying nice made in the US stuff when possible.posted by bongo_x at 7:56 AM on November 29, 2011

I'd be more interested if there was something for tall people. Until then, I will stick with Land's End. LE understands about extra-large TALL.posted by dfm500 at 11:09 AM on November 29, 2011

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